Wyoming to Reopen Vital Commuter Highway Three Weeks Post Landslide

JACKSON, Wyo. —⁤ Construction teams‍ were ‌nearing the completion of a provisional detour on Tuesday, circumventing a landslide that had obstructed a crucial thoroughfare for numerous employees in a popular resort town in western Wyoming.

Officials from the Wyoming Department of Transportation were hopeful to have Wyoming Highway 22, a key route⁤ over Teton Pass near‌ the Idaho border, ​operational again by‍ Friday. The highway has been out of service ⁢since June 8, ​when a landslide ‌caused both lanes to plummet into a deep chasm.

Fortunately, no injuries were reported when ⁤the⁤ road collapsed. The highway was‌ already shut down due to⁢ a separate‍ landslide that had strewn mud and⁣ debris across ‍the road in a nearby location.

However, the road’s closure has ⁣caused significant inconvenience for thousands of commuters. Many ‌individuals are⁣ employed in Jackson — a bustling ski and tourism hotspot located near the entrances‍ of Grand⁤ Teton and Yellowstone​ national parks, where the average home price is⁤ in the millions — but reside in the more economically friendly eastern Idaho.

The obliterated highway‌ has compelled ​these commuters to opt for an ⁤alternative southern‌ route, which has added more than an hour to their daily commute in‌ both directions.

Motorists will be required to reduce their ⁣speed to 20 miles per hour when traversing the temporary section, but will not need to come to a complete stop, according⁤ to Bob Hammond, an engineer with the Wyoming Department of Transportation. The two newly paved lanes will extend approximately 600-700 feet.

“The grade is a bit steeper, which isn’t really a significant issue. However, the ‌turns are somewhat tighter,” Hammond explained during a press tour of ‌the site on‌ Tuesday.

Hammond also noted that a permanent solution, which could potentially cost upwards of $20 million, will require a longer period​ to implement.